Deep Blue is a community-based approach to planning, with a focus on restoring environmental health through green infrastructure in five targeted urban neighborhoods.

Deep Blue

Deep Blue is an exciting and innovative partnership between Blue Water Baltimore, the Neighborhood Design Center, the Baltimore Department of Planning, and five neighborhoods throughout Baltimore City.

These partners will work together to comprehensively address the stormwater, greening, and targeted public health goals in each area.

This new approach moves us away from the traditional program model of installing isolated practices, toward a comprehensive and community-based approach that breaks the cycle of planning fatigue through the design and implementation of immediate and long-term solutions.

The Neighborhoods

Mondawmin

Belair-Edison

Why Deep Blue

We recognize that Baltimore City communities have a wide range of priorities, and the environment is not always the first among them. At the same time, environmental restoration produces tangible benefits that improve public health and economic outcomes.

Using the Walkable Watershed Model, we will bring together community members, non-profits, and city agencies to identify mutually agreed upon greening projects on public and private land that advance community priorities.

Communities will identify needs, the city and non-profits will analyze their feasibility and divide the projects so those identified on private lands are advanced by non-profit organizations while the City will work to implement projects on public land. Under this approach, communication will be streamlined, enhanced, and will allow for more meaningful community input.

Deep Blue, because it uses a partnership approach to restoration, will maximize the strengths of each partner, leverage scarce resources, and accelerate on the ground efforts.

Community Liaisons

Our primary partners are the communities that we seek to serve. We want to first listen to communities to better understand their aspirations for their neighborhoods, and to offer our assistance in meeting these goals.

To learn more, or for questions and comments about Deep Blue, contact one of our community liaisons that work closely with our neighborhood partners.